What types of polls might journalists use to assess voter behavior during an election? A: Push polls B: Query polls C: Exit polls D: District polls

 C) Exit polls are commonly used by journalists to assess voter behavior during an election. Exit polls are surveys taken immediately after voters leave their polling stations. They are used to predict the outcome of an election before the official results are tallied. Exit polls can provide insight into the demographics of voters and the reasons behind their choices at the polls, as they often include questions about voters' background, such as age, race, gender, and political affiliation, as well as issue and candidate preferences.

Although the term "district polls" is not commonly used as a technical term in this context, it could theoretically refer to polls conducted within specific electoral districts, which might be used to predict outcomes in those areas or assess specific local issues or attitudes.

The terms "push polls" and "query polls" are not standard terms for types of polls used to assess voter behavior in the context of elections. Push polls are actually a deceptive campaign technique masquerading as polling; they are intended to influence voters under the guise of conducting a poll by asking leading or biased questions to sway voters' opinions.

It's important for students to understand that there are various methods journalists and researchers use to measure public opinion, particularly around elections. Some common types of election-related polls, in addition to exit polls, include:

1. Opinion Polls - These are conducted before an election to gauge the public's mood and predict the potential outcome. Opinion polls can occur weeks or even months before an election day.

2. Tracking Polls - These are repeated periodically with the same group of people to track changes in public opinion over time, often used during the campaign period.

3. Entrance Polls - Similar to exit polls, but taken before voters cast their votes. These are less common and can influence the election's outcome since voters could be exposed to the poll's results before voting.

4. Push Polls - As mentioned, these are not genuine polls but rather campaign tools designed to spread misinformation under the guise of conducting a poll.

In any discussion of polls, it's also critical to address the potential for inaccuracies, biases, and the infamous margin of error. Furthermore, the timing of polls, the phrasing of questions, and the sampling methods can all significantly impact the data collected and the conclusions drawn from that data. Journalists must treat polls as tools that can help create a picture of public opinion, rather than definitive predictors of election outcomes.